Run by Roman's Takeout...

In downtown Asheville for a great meal. Roman's features fresh local ingredients such as beef from Hickory Nut Gap farm. Whether it's lunch or dinner, Roman's has you covered. Try one of their outstanding burgers, sandwiches, or salads soon. That's where we're headed for dinner this evening. Sign up for their email list to get buzzed about weekly specials. Cheers!

Roman's Takeout
75 Haywood St.
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 505.1552

The freshest seafood in town: The Lobster Trap

In many instances it’d be a bit much for one to ask for high quality seafood to be readily available in the mountainous regions of the world. Well, that’s not the case in Asheville, thanks to the local eatery the Lobster Trap. Having been voted “Best Seafood in WNC” every year since 2005 the Lobster Trap Fresh Seafood and Oyster Bar has a loyal following, and if you’ve eaten there once or ten times you know it’s as fresh as seafood gets. That can be credited to the fact that the lobsters are flown in three times a week from Maine. And if you’ve not eaten there, you need to treat you and yours to dinner there immediately. The friendly staff will be ready to take your name or seat you immediately if possible. In general the service is pleasant and attentive.

The freshness isn’t just present in the lobster. Care is taken to ensure that all the shrimp, oysters, mussels, crab, clams, and scallops are of the highest quality. This focus on freshness leads to a satisfying eating experience at an eatery that would almost seem out of place in the mountains of North Carolina.

I’ve had nothing but positive experiences with the appetizers I’ve ordered at the “Trap”. The large shrimp appetizer is about a half pound, which amounts to 12-16 shrimp depending on their size. The shrimp taste perfect on their own, and have never been overcooked. The cocktail sauce is a classic style but it possesses unique bite. The lobster toast is another favorite, how can one go wrong with combining the freshest lobster and shrimp around with melted cheese and fresh City Bakery bread? You know the answer, you can’t. The trap cakes also delight with the emphasis again being placed on the freshness of the crabmeat, there’s always a tang of mayo, but not too much. And you will also not run into what I call “bread crumb cakes” there’s always just enough, and the ratio always favors the amount of crabmeat. The trout ribs are a great order if you want to sample some local fare for starters. The crab dip is always a crowd pleaser, especially if you’re not going to order crab as your main course. And to note, I’ve found the 2008 Cartlidge & Brown chardonnay to be a perfect accompaniment to all of this fare.

When it comes to the main course it’s easy for me to choose my favorite dish; which is a luxury, because often times it’s not an easy task. Hands down I prefer the “Wicked Good Maine Lobster” to the other entrees I’ve sampled. The lobster is so fresh, with the right hint of salt, fresh from the coast of Maine. I use my drawn butter sparingly, because the taste of the meat is utterly satisfying. As for sides (which are not the traps strong suite), I like the lobster mac & cheese and the grilled corn on the cob. And when I’ve tried others I haven’t been disappointed, although there is nothing special about the steamed broccoli or potatoes. Also try the “Traps” preparations of old classics like Shrimp & Grits, Pecan Trout, and Pasta Alfredo with your choices of shrimp, lobster, clams, or a little of all three.

Dessert at the “Trap” changes often, but the Kentucky Derby Pie I tried was terrific. Seeing that chef Tres Hundertmark used to work at the track at Churchill Downs, I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Whether you’re a local or you’re just visiting make sure you pay a visit to the Lobster Trap Fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar. You’ll be genuinely surprised that such fresh seafood is to be found right in our own backyard.



The Lobster Trap Fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar
35 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC
Phone: (828) 350.0505
Reservations for 12+

Lunch Spot of the week : Philly Hoagie House and their delicious cheesteaks!

Our lunch spot of the week is the Philly Hoagie House located on Merrimon Ave. just North of Beaver Lake. This was my second visit to the establishment, as my first experience was rather good. So good in fact, I ordered the samething again! I'm not sure why it took me so long to finally try their food, because I am originally a northern girl who loves a good cheesesteak. In Asheville, I had yet to get my hands on a decent cheesesteak so I was curious to see what Philly Hoagie House had to offer.

The Philly Hoagie House delivers an authentic hoagie house experience in the midst of Asheville. If you're a northern transplant you'll appreciate that they have Amoroso's bread delivered from Philadelphia. If you're unfamiliar with Amoroso's you'll be on the band wagon after having a hoagie on it. After all, Amoroso's is the bread preferred by cheesesteak establishments in Philadelphia.

I ordered the Cheese Whiz "philly"' with sweet potato fries while my dining partner ordered the Chicken "Philly" with Baked Potato Soup. I was rather excited about having a cheese whiz "philly" because it's not an option offered anywhere other than Philadelphia. I like my cheese melted throughout the meat and that's what I got. The meat was finely chopped so that you didn't have meat falling out of your sandwhich, each bite was easy to chew and had that "melt in your mouth" quality to it. As for the sweet fries, I thought they were good although my partner thought they were too crispy. To each his own, right?

My partner's meal was equally impressive. The meat was perfectly cooked, and the peppers and mushrooms were excellent and had that classic "fresh from the grill" taste. He especially enjoyed the soup that day. It wasn't too chunky and was great for dipping.

Philly Hoagie house also offers at least 16 different ice cream flavors in addition to sundaes and smoothies. The ice cream stand offers unique Hershey's flavors like key lime pie, blueberry pomegranate and banana pudding as well as old favorites like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.

The staff at Philly Hoagie house are casual and friendly. We were recognized for coming back and I felt like my business was appreciated. Which is always nice, especially in this economy. I always notice when proprietors and staff thank me or other diners. I consider it the "cherry on top" to a top-notch dining experience.

I would reccomend this spot to anyone looking to grab a quick bite to eat that isn't hard on the pocket or pallette. They welcome call in orders and families.

Philly Hoagie House
204 Weaverville Hwy.
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 645.2400

Pineapple Jack's: Healthy Sandwiches, Wraps, and Smoothies in W. Asheville

Last weekend, I ventured out to Pineapple Jacks in West Asheville to join 5 of my friends for lunch. I suggested we go to this place because the food is delicious and the atmosphere is quintessential Asheville. This was only my second time at Pineapple Jacks, but my first visit was so impressive, I felt more then confident recommending it to my friends. I was thrilled to find that this dining experience did not disappoint either. Several of us all ordered the Apple Wrapple (a spinach wrap stuffed with turkey, cheese, cranberry, bacon, granny smith apple, spinach) which has to be one of my favorite wraps, ever. I'm not typically a wrap lover, but this one is full of flavor. The salsa and chips that come on the side are fresh and pleasing too. I can also recommend the Mid-Day Pick Me Up smoothie, what a refreshing creation, that provides an uplifting sensation.

Overall, the meal was superb. Their service was a bit touch'n'go but it wasn't poor either. The only area that could use some attention is the tidiness of the restaurant. The establishment certainly wasn't dirty, but some could've used some attention to scattered chairs and crumpled napkins. The table we were seated at was still littered with the previous diners trash. We did have to wait a good five or more minutes before anyone came to clear off the table. Nonetheless, the food was consistent as always!

Pay the crew at Jack's a visit when you need a smoothie fix or for your personal sub, wrap, or sandwich cravings!

Pineapple Jack's
643 Haywood Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 253.8860

Welcome to The Asheville Epicurean!

Thank you for visiting our website. We have started this blog as a way to unite the food and wine lovers in the Asheville, North Carolina area. During the last 7 years here, I have been lucky enough to dine in some of the city's best restaurants but since this town's restaurant scene is always changing, it occurred to me that there ought to be a place where one can go to get the scoop on what's really going on in Asheville's dining spots. We have created The Asheville Epicurean to provide real reviews and blurbs on area restaurants, top choice lists, local recipes (please feel free to submit them), and general news for all the local foodies like myself. Cheers!!